Top 5 Sensitive 21 Savage Tracks

Forget what you thought you knew about 21 Savage. The man has amassed a reputation as one of rap's most ominous figures, the silent assassin lurking in the shadows, waiting to slit your throat with his favorite (ISSA) knife. From The Slaughter Tape to Savage Mode, 21 Savage cultivated a persona synonymous with horror-film violence. Dude even has a knife tattooed on his forehead.

With the release of his recent project Issa Album, something seemed to change. 21 Savage seemed happy. Perhaps it was linking up with Amber Rose, or merely a response to his newfound commercial success. Either way, these feelings crept into his music, leading to some experimental vibes you'd never expect from Savage. 

It became clear that there was always a sensitive side to the rapper, even when he did his best to mask the pain. Like any true tortured artist, 21 Savage found inspiration in the unpredictable carnage of life. But deep down, it was clear he was looking for something more.

Here are five tracks that showcase a different, more sensitive side to the rapper who once vowed to "slaughter your daughter."

Don't let the title fool you. From the opening twenty seconds, it's clear that 21 Savage is about to deliver some sincerity. While he's since become defined by his aura of quiet menace, "Heart So Cold" features 21 spitting from the heart. The Mercy produced instrumental is the perfect canvas for some soul searching, and Savage reflects on his childhood, skipping class and soaking in the violent nature of the streets.

His heart may seem cold on the surface, but this track proves he's capable of vulnerability, if only at a distance.

21 Savage and Amber Rose have been making waves as hip-hop's new power couple, and who can really hate? They're both clearly happy, and perhaps some of that romance has found it's way into 21 Savage's Grinch-esque heart. I mean, would anybody have really expected a track like 'Facetime" to pop up on a 21 Savage album? It's like Leatherface using his chainsaw to carve out delightful wooden sculptures for orphans.

Some people weren't crazy about 21's newfound pop sensibilities, but art is reflective of emotion. If 21 is a man in love, why can't he express it through song?

The Issa Album cut "Numb" is ostensibly about masking one's inner sadness with copious amounts of wealth and luxury. However, we're not fooled for a second. 21 Savage may frequently remind us that he has no heart and so on, but a man fighting to hide his pain is still a man in pain. 

"Mama, it's a lot of secrets that I had to keep from you, Got in so much trouble, thought the teachers had beef with you," raps 21, reflecting on some of his childhood struggles. Remember, to be sensitive and to be hard as fuck are not mutually exclusive, and 21 Savage proves he's capable of treading both sides of the fence. 

"She got me in my feelings," raps 21 Savage, opening up what may be his most emotional track thus far. It's kind of like 21 Savage's version of 50 Cent's "21 Questions," a gangster love ballad. Because after all, g's need love too.

While this one may or may not have been written about Amber Rose, it's still reflective of 21's shift into embracing his sensitive side. Whenever rappers do these types of tracks, there are inevitably shades of Bonnie & Clyde; they may be in love, but they'll still kill you. Even when 21 Savage is on that sentimental tip, it still sounds hard.  

As a whole, Savage Mode was the audio equivalent to a drugged out trek through an urban-Gothic wasteland. While 21 Savage generally stayed true to his horror film aesthetic, there were the occasional glimmers of hope beneath that cold, deadpan veneer. On "Feel It," 21 recounts an amorous origin story of sorts, straight up placing himself and an unnamed lover as surrogates of the aforementioned Bonnie & Clyde.

It wouldn't be a gangsta love song without all those classic tropes: decking her out in Gucci, hitting it raw, even introducing her to his momma. Even though 21 Savage ultimately can't shake the allure of the game, it still remains proof that he falls in love just like the rest of us.